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United States Patent | 6,013,878 |
Schwartz ,   et al. | January 11, 2000 |
In an improved postage scale system, soft-selection keys are used for selecting options including shipping service options provided by the system. The display on such a system is adjustable for comfortable viewing thereof. The system is capable of interfacing and communicating with other devices such as a printer, a remote computer, an optical scanner, an integrated circuit (IC) card, etc. Certain data and code for use in the system can be updated by downloading new data and code from IC cards to the system. A security measure is instituted such that, after an update of the data or code, a system user is required to enter a valid authorization number in order to enable the system. Such a measure is, in part, necessary for deterring unauthorized copying of software of the system onto another similar system.
Inventors: | Schwartz; Robert G. (Branford, CT); Crowe; Allen A. (Prospect, CT); Emmett; James S. (Derby, CT); Eskandari; Fetneh (Middletown, CT); Palange; Martin F. (Monroe, CT); Simcik; Mark E. (Bloomfield, CT); Swanbery; Robert (Fairfield, CT); Japenga; Robert J. (Simsbury, CT); Lehman; Joseph L. (Canton, CT); Weirsman; William A. (Orange, CT); Rahgo; George P. (Milford, CT) |
Assignee: | Ascom Hasler Mailing Systems, Inc. (Shelton, CT) |
Appl. No.: | 895409 |
Filed: | July 16, 1997 |
Current U.S. Class: | 177/25.13; 177/238; 248/923; 361/681; 705/416 |
Intern'l Class: | G01G 019/22; G01G 021/28; H05K 005/00 |
Field of Search: | 361/681 16/337,338,339,340 248/291.1,923 177/25.11,25.12,25.13,25.14,25.15,25.16,25.17,126,127,238,244 705/416,407 702/173 |
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Foreign Patent Documents | |||
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Japanese abstract by Yuuseishoo for patent application 58-61419 (A), published Apr. 12, 1983. |